Return to court, broadcasters missing

A practice game, but still.

Not a great viewing experience, though, when Joe Lacob gets twice as much screen time as Stephen Curry. And makes one fewer shot than Curry makes in the first half.

Biggest takeaway? Stephen Curry is still with us! He didn’t quit ball to join the celeb golf circuit, become Under Armour CEO, or team up full time with Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Hey, Steph, what’s with all the turnovers and missed shots? Run this theory past your boy Fauci: Your new headband is cutting off the circulation to your brain.

I don’t do critiques of broadcasting teams, but if you watched the game on NBC Sports

Bay Area, you got an entire first half with zero playbyplay. First Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike held a chatfest, ignoring the game, even though most of us are still trying to learn who the new Warriors are.

Then they drifted into the Twilight Zone. Team owner Lacob dropped in on the telecast, to be interviewed during the game, on camera. That interview might still be going on.

Fitzgerald did most of the relentless grilling of Lacob, demanding to know how his boss could be so generous, competitive and goldurn funny.

If Lacob is so generous, why doesn’t he buy Steve Kerr a mask that stays on his nose when he talks?

“We’ll let you go at the next break,” FitzIn

gerald told his boss, and millions of viewers screamed at their TV screens for Kerr to call a timeout.

Several breaks later, the lovefest continued.

Putting aside snark for a moment, the A’s have an owner who doesn’t care if his team wins and has a mousetrap in his wallet, the Giants have an owner who helps finance the coup of democracy, the Raiders have an owner who abducted his team. Among that crowd, Lacob is light centuries ahead.

The smooching continued after Lacob ducked out of the telecast. Azubuike on Lacob and his crew: “They’re just so forwardthinking!”

Third quarter, here’s Bob Myers dropping into the TV gabfest. Speaking for those of us who tuned in to watch a Warriors game, CAN YOU PLEASE TELECAST THE DAMN GAME?

At least Lacob realized the need for some playbyplay. “Smiley with the block!”

Fun fact: One of the many Warriors with a 7foot wingspan: Joe Lacob.

Hey, it’s preseason for us

watchers, too. I will have to relearn how to watch a game. What did we learn about the Warriors’ offense? It will be kind of quick, and everyone jacks the 3ball. Curry literally shoots from the balcony. Actually his pregame “tunnel” shot is from the arena level 8 feet above the floor. Good! It’s the shots from the hardwood where he struggled.

Kerr said he likes the way his guys played defense, and he’s hard to please. “I think we have a chance to be an excellent defensive team,” Kerr said. “Really excited.”

Defense is all about energy, effort and wingspan. And, as Meat Loaf said, two out of three ain’t bad.

James Wiseman, watching Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, must have reflected that four competitive games ago, he

( Wiseman) was playing high school ball.

Wiseman, sidelined by a positive COVID test, is learning the NBA and the Warriors’ system by watching practices from a balcony. If you could learn basketball that way, I woulda been an NBA star.

I love the Warriors’ finesse

game, says Jokic. Myers just phoned Andrew Bogut to see if Boges is tired of being retired.

You’re in trouble if Alen Smailagic is your enforcer.

Jordan Poole, is that a new haircut or did you join the Witness Protection Program? Poole shoots 4for4.

As I type this, the third quarter is drawing to a close, and Fitz and Kelenna still are not doing playbyplay. I remember one plane flight I was on where the woman next to me spent the entire flight trying to sell me vitamins.

Kelly Oubre? Absolutely. And here’s a comparison reference for the oldtimers: Oubre has a bit of the looselimbed, lefty funk of ’ 60s era Dick “Fall Back Baby” Barnett.

Love the new look for coaches, the polo shirts. NBA coaches have been the most overdressed people in sports.

Kerr, with his penchant for busting clipboards, will petition the league to be allowed to wear a karate gi.

And Mike Brown stares forlornly at a closet full of $ 1,800 suits.